Nishioka Wins In Toyota For Second Challenger Crown

A LOOK BACK
Dunlop Srixon World Challenge (Toyota, Japan): Seventh seed Yoshihito Nishioka capped a strong 2015 campaign with a dominant run in Toyota, capturing his second ATP Challenger Tour title 6-3, 6-4 over Alexander Kudryavtsev. The 20 year old is projected to rise to a career-high World No. 117 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, becoming the third-highest ranked Japanese behind only Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel. Nishioka, who reached the quarter-finals at the ATP World Tour 250 event in Delray Beach and won his first Grand Slam match at the US Open, is the fourth different Japanese player to lift a trophy on the Challenger circuit this year (Daniel, Yuichi Sugita & Go Soeda).

Andria E Castel Del Monte Challenger (Andria, Italy): Ivan Dodig concluded his 2015 campaign in impressive fashion after reaching the doubles semi-finals at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The Croat needed a strong finish on the indoor hard courts of Andria to end the year in the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings and secure his place in the Australian Open main draw. He would run away with his third title in as many months and sixth overall on the Challenger circuit, downing Michael Berrer 6-2, 6-1 in 65 minutes on Sunday. In September, he won his first title in four years in St. Remy and a month later lifted the trophy in Brest. Projected to rise inside the Top 90, Dodig finishes with his sixth consecutive year-end Top 100 spot.

ATP Challenger Tour Finals (Sao Paulo, Brazil): Inigo Cervantes won his fourth title of the year, saving two match points to defeat Daniel Munoz-de la Nava in Sao Paulo. Read full report

WHAT’S AHEAD
That’s a wrap for the 2015 ATP Challenger Tour season. The circuit will be on a five-week hiatus before resuming with events in Argentina, Thailand, Australia and New Caledonia in January.